History of Jeep

Jeep FC 150/170 Pickup: 1957-65These Forward-Control series Jeep vehicles were essentially work trucks – with an 81-inch wheelbase for the FC 150 and 103.5 inches for the FC 170. They received few changes during their lifecycle, though some 1959 and 1960 models featured full-floating front and rear axles, and some 1959 models included dual rear wheels and a four-speed manual transmission.

Jeep Gladiator/J-Series Pickup: 1963-87Resembling the Wagoneer, Gladiator debuted in 1963 in either 120-inch (J-200) or 126-inch (J-300) form, and featuring a Dana 20 transfer case and Dana 44s front and rear. The Gladiator name was dropped in 1972.

Jeep Commando: 1967-73A 101-inch wheelbase vehicle equipped with the “Dauntless” V-6 and full-floating Dana 27 and 44 rear axles. Fewer than 100 versions of the 1971 Commando Hurst Special were produced, making it one of the favorite and rarest vehicles among Jeep collectors.

Jeep CJ-7: 1976-86In 1976, AMC introduced the CJ-7, the first major change in Jeep design in 20 years. The CJ-7 had a slightly longer wheelbase than the CJ-5 in order to allow space for an automatic transmission. For the first time, the CJ-7 offered an optional molded plastic top and steel doors. Both the 93.5-inch wheelbase CJ-7 and 83.5-inch wheelbase CJ-5 models were built until 1983 when demand for the CJ-7 left AMC no choice but to discontinue the CJ-5, after a 30-year production run.

Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler: 1981-85Introduced in 1981, the Scrambler was a Jeep similar to the CJ-7, but with a longer wheelbase. Known internationally as the CJ-8, it was available in either hard- or soft-top versions. Less than 30,000 Scramblers were built, though they are extremely popular among collectors today.

Jeep Cherokee (XJ): 1984-01Built on a unibody platform, the Cherokee XJ was a smaller, but much more advanced version of the Cherokee SJ. Highlights included the introduction of Jeep’s Command-Trac® four-wheel-drive system and Quadra-Link coil front suspension. Cherokee Limited debuted in 1988 and a 4.0-liter I-6 was introduced in 1989.

Jeep Wrangler (YJ): 1987-96In 1983, the growing market for compact four-wheel-drive vehicles still sought the utilitarian virtues of the Jeep CJ series, but consumers also were seeking more of the “creature comforts” found in passenger cars. The response was discontinuing the CJ series and introducing the 1987 Jeep Wrangler (YJ).